Arsenal Are Closing In On Yaya Sanogo, Confirms Wenger

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Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the club is close to landing highly-rated Auxerre youngster Yaya Sanogo.

The young striker is believed to be one of the best talents to emerge in recent times. Sanogo spent his youth career at clubs like Montrouge CF, which has produced talents like Ben Arfa, and Les Ulis, the club where Arsenal legend Thierry Henry started his career as a kid. After signing for Auxerre as a 13-year-old kid, Yaya Sanogo delivered some outstanding performances in the youth tournaments in the 2006-07 season. In 14 matches that season, Sanogo scored 25 goals and provided 17 assists — people all of sudden sat up and took notice of him.

The 20-year-old has been a subject of interest for a lot of clubs across Europe even before he was promoted to the senior side of the French club. Arsenal have been scouting him since 2007 and they were also joined by their arch rivals Tottenham. But Sanogo decided to continue his career in France and signed a professional contract with Auxerre, back in 2009.

But despite his obvious talent, there are concerns about his fitness. Sanogo has already suffered from a horrific injury during the 2010-11 season, when he fractured his tibia and was out from the game for a period of six months. The Frenchman, who was born to parents of Ivorian and Malian descent, has made tremendous progress through the French youth set-up. He scored 18 goals in 18 games for the U-16 French team. Currently he plays for the U-21s, making his debut back in 2011. Many people expect him to get a call-up to the French national team as well, and sooner rather than later.

Yaya Sanogo has reportedly turned down another contract from Auxerre as he was interested in moving to one of the big clubs who were interested in him. And now Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the London club is close to landing him on a permanent deal.

“We are advanced with him, but it’s not done. I’m very confident (it will be done).

Arsenal will be signing one the hottest prospects in France if they manage to complete the move, and interestingly the London club will only have to pay a compensation fee, which makes this a bargain deal. Yaya Sanogo has tremendous physique: he is tall, strong on the ball, has excellent pace and even has a wonderful work rate. All in all, he has the attributes to become a top striker. He is not yet ready to make any substantial impact in the Arsenal first team, but with the likes of Chamakh, Bendtner and Arshavin likely to leave the Emirates permanently this summer, he might as well get his opportunity to shine.